Resilient wheel



May 3l, 1927.

f 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RESILIENT WHEEL Filed. Jgn.. 18,v 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Ma A3l 1927.

y E. scHULTz RESILIENT WHEEL Filed Jan., 18. 1923.

Patented May 31, 1927.

sauren aras-S tenses ERNnsT soHuLTz, or EAST ivininnonitnnvicronin, Ausraatra.

REsiLInNT WHEEL. f

Application filed January 18, 1923, Serial No.

wheels, the treads of which are suspended on` air and preferably to that class ot resilient Wheel having a plurality ot spaced cylinders in continuous air communication `with each other and having pistonsopeiating therein and outwardly against concave suri'aces on rim members and the tread ring of the tyre.-

The Wheels of this type at present in use are defective for the'reason that no means are provided for immediatelyfcreating suflicient air pressure in the cylinders t-o effectively and automatically suspend the load simultaneously with the rotation of the Wheels. y

This invention has been'devised in order to overcome this defect and to provide cheap, simple and eiective mechanism the essential characteristics of which will be herein-- after described.

I have found in practice that it is essential in order to provide su'liiciently increased air pressure to support the load, that an automatic air pumping device be employed and such a mechanism forms the salient feature of this invention. Y

The basic principle underlying this invention consists of means comprising essentially two piston elements so arranged that When the piston head moves outwardly by centrifugal torce or Wit-h the help .of auxiliary springs air is drawn by the pumping eiect into the inner piston andthrough a suction valve against the inner end of the outer or main piston and when the auxiliary pis-ton returns the `air is deliveredY to the passage connecting all the cylinders of the Wheel through a delivery valve, thus an air pumping action takes place Which functions so that the main piston is exibly forced out against the rim members of the discs and the Wheel -is suspended on air at a pressure capable ot being continuously vand automatically maintained as the Wheel revolves.

A further essential feature consists in forming the inner pumping piston or element substantially smaller than the main or outer piston or element the latter element floating on the air pressure'created bythe pumping member and carrying any Weight 313,492, amiga ansa-ana February 15,1922.

with almaximum flexibility to absorb any shocks that may be imparted the air pressure in the continuous passage beingwjdisplaced 'and transmitted around ythe wheel, so

that a plurality or all of the pistons are .altected until a shock is absorbed; U n A urther essential featureconsists inv ar- TENT oli-.tFICis;y

lranging the pistons in each cylinder so that when the Wheel turns the inner or pumping W piston head is thrown out b.y. centrifugal force and airis drawn by the suction through lholes-.atthe outer end otsaid piston, `and on the rotationthe air is forced through the delivery valve'of themain piston to an air passage common to allthe cylinders and the Wheel floats on the air in said passage.

A further essential feature consists in .the arrangement of the parts whereby the pumping pistons remain inactive kWhen .the pressure in-thevpassage common to all the cylinders is equalv to the load but on thevimparting otra shock o r jar tothe Wheel all `the pistons are aiected, beingp'all ypushed -inwardly equally either by the tread ring or the disc rim members and the air in the passage common to all the cylinders is automatically relieved of excess pressure by the v Figure 1 is a side elevation partlyin sec- .tion ot a Wheel constructed according to this invention. i

Figure 2 is a transverse sectiony of one-half of the Wheel on a larger scale than ithat i shown in Figure l, and

.Figure 3 is a. View in vertical central section of one of the cylinders and :partsl thereof embodied in the invention.

of Figure 1., l Y i According to this invention the hub l is fitted on both sides ivith discs 2 suitably bolted at 3 in spaced relation to each other and these discs 2 at their enter edge are Figure t is a sectionalvievv on line-A-A i inturned as at 4 towards each other and fitted with rim members 5, the inner surface of which is formed with spaced concave surfaces 6 of ,a number corresponding to the number of air cylinders 7 employed.

A plurality of cylinders 7 mounted Vor formed on a continuous casting 8 having a continuous air passage 9 is provided and these cylinders 7 all communicate with the air passage 9, the casting 8 being spaced as` outer end 14, beingprovidea withfside' e.\f

tensions -15 or a rim adapted to bear against the concave surfaces 6 of the rim members v5' of the discs 2 and near thev inner end of thesaid mainl piston 11, afpiston ring 16 or rings are fitted in a groove '17 in the piston which works iiush with the internal bore of the cylinder 7. Y

Each main piston 11 is hollow being' closed at its inner-end at 8 except 'for apassage 18 normally closed by a spring controlled delivery valve 19,*saidv passage leading Yfrom a hollow pumping piston 21.'

"The valve 19 operates inwardly towards the air passage 9 and is contained in a screw cap 19a in the floorl 8 of the main piston and is formed -with a chamber 19", while a spring 19C operates against the valve being disposed around the valve stem.

Each 'pumping pistonI 21 is hollow and is closed at its inner end or floor 22 by a screw cap 23 forming a valve box.

A hard rubber or other suitable buffer ring 25 is seated onA the floor 8a oifthe main piston 11 and is'formedvwith a passage 211 to allow ofcominunication with the passage 18 and the valve chamber 26 ot the hollow pumping piston 21, and thisbnli'eutaires y sudden shocks orjars that inay be imparted to the rim and maintains silent running.

The buffer 25 is normally held hard down on the lloor or basefof the outer piston. The valve chamber 26 is formed centrally in the screw cap 23 of the pumping'piston 21 and to allow the passage olf 'air' 'from the inner pumping piston 21 to' the valve chamber 26 a passage .27' is provided in the outer end of the screw cap 23 and this pas'- sage is normally closed by an inlet Valve 2S controlled by the spring` 29, surrounding` the lower stein of said valve. The inner piston 21 at the outer end or head communicates with the atmosphere by one or a plurality of holes 30 andthis' inner piston 21 works flush in the main piston, the latter being internally grooved if desired to receive graphite or other lubricant.

l Each innerpuniping piston 21 is formed with a head 31, connected at 31 to the piston 21 and curved at the outery end 32 and adapted to always exert outward pressure `against concave surfaces 33 on the inner springsB are provided operating againsty its lhead as at 36 and received in the recess 37'formed on the inner surface of the outer piston. A The inner portion of vthe tread' ring 34; may beformed of a plurality of abutting .metal segments S8 with strengthening webs 39 `if Vso desired to ensure rapid replacement of any 'part and a `fibre or other ring 39 may be fitted to thehub 1 inside the disc to take the thrust. i s

In operation when the wheel turns the inner or pumping` piston head 31 is thrown out by centrifugal -force with the assistance or, the auxiliary spring 35 and air is drawn by' the suction through the yholes 30 at the outer end of the piston 21 and through the suction valve 28 into the valve chamber 26 by the partial vacuun'i'created inside said chamber and on rotation the 'air is i'orced through the delivery valve 19 to the air passage 9 common to all the cylinders and the wheel thus floats on the air in said passage 9. The load is thus suspended on air which is automatically pumped'te the pressure revquired, so thata positive pressure is maintained Vby the pumping action of the pistons.

The pumps 21 are inactive when'thepressure in the passage 9 is equal to the load but on the imparting of a shock or jar to the wheel all the pistons are affected being all` compressed equally either by the tread ring or the disc rims and the air in the passage 9 Iis automatically relieved ofl excess pressurerby the return of thepistons to normal position. i 'y A l desire it to beunderstood that various improvements and modilicitions may be embodied without departing 'lrointhe'spirit and scope of the invention. i' i ldf'hat'l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zf 1. 1n a resilient wheel a plurality of pairs of pistons each pair ot pistons operating in one olla plurality ofcylinders spaced around but indefiendent ofthe nnb of the wheel, thc head ot the pumping pistons bearing against concave surfaces of the tread ring and each main piston having projections 11 '-membersioiftheqvheel d parts lbeing i so arrange relieved` .of ei'ee'ss pressure i j speerfied: f

hearing-ragainstaficonc e sur in efach-puniping ston` and adeliueryzyalve inaeaoh 'mainpiste )communicating juritlian air passagieicoininon to all the cylinders,- Vthe taking la shockthe pistons are 5aiectedj-k and orv the purposes in. one fof. al plurality, ofiffcylinders: spaced Y ditliattthepumping l il pistons iarevfinactiye-Wlienl the"pressure@iny 1 the passage isv equalaj to: theffload Vlout; :when

pushedjinirardflyandthe'arlin theL passage l on .thereturn 'of thepistons is automatically l lient rf offpi'stons each setiolwtwo pistons operating 'hef-wfrpries.

uba.. tlie puniping if: pistonfhing air;- passageicoininon toy f all he cyl he 'eu-ter Vend, Witlijl air :'inletfsljan'dv` er Vfren-.d .'uiit'lrg a suction 4` valve, thef rf malnfpiston being formed Vwith 'Vega communicating i with" j a :icona-i "neytherpamp u membearfar f t ,Y @tra i 'Y .thincyl-indjersilo ingraround "and a main piston disposed' huh, the pumping pistons,'beingv rincontact..

Vvivalve in the n piston', and on return of the' puinpingpistonl of Vpisto-nsfeach set of; pistons operating .in one of a plurality of cylinders spa'cedarounch l @Olbut independent of the hub of the Wheel and;

' ,Zinain pistonspalidfa space externallyfofftlie floor of theLnia-in pistonsico ininunieatingfwith` a passage common tozfallfth'e cylinders 'the y parts vbeing'so that the load' {isjsus' 'l pendfed l on.. air 'auteihatic'ally puniped'to 'the pressure required 'on the rotation of the-Wheel.v

arranged cylinders spaced-from the Wheel 'with the tread .ring and thel .main vpistons a suction Valve von the um in@ istons and a .deliver l lValve on P. P e P l Y the main piston communicatingwith an4v air i y i toall the i 'cylinders the parts being ,disposedso that on theV Wheel passage common rot-ation `airis forced through lthe delivery Valyesto the air Ypassage floats on the 'air insaid passage.

4. In a resilientwheela pluralityfoffpairs ofpiston's each disposed Within' ay cylinder and so arranged thatWhenthepumping pistonV head moves: outwardly? centrifugal. 1 forceair is drawnby a punipingeiect into the xnain'pistoni'through a'fv suction orfinleJ ioor fof the "outeryo'r pumping head the air is delivered to apassageconnectingA all the cylinders of -the. Wheel through a delivery valve vas-andorthepurposes specie'd'.

Y 5'. Ina resilient-*Whee'l` apliirality of pairs ,lso disposed that on the'revolutionfof the Wheel apu'mping action is olotained.V i* y Y 46. ln a resilient Wheela plurality of pairs of pistons Within cylinders iloating around a Wheel hub, the pumpingpiston loeingy sub-'L the rim members V v pumping piston so the Wheel,

passage vspring pist-onslone Working 1W floating' around a-Wlieel hub," apassage andaV ,v i-thiln'thevotlierrand o c fdisposed Within radial cylinders spaced and In a resilient Wheel'a pumping `piston f within Yradially- `suctionyalvefinthe pumping pistons,r said? i i `valve feeding intov the mainpisto'm and/a f delivery vValve in the inain'piston controllingv tliejdeliyery of air `roin said Inain` piston to"` i apassageV coinm'onto all the cylinders Wherev vleyonv the outWard'movementoithe p uinplV ing piston 'caused loyy centrifugal vforce; air is main piston to mon l to all specifi-ed.-`

1 10. lA resilient Wheell con:sistirig;'in their* f 110 i combinationof a hub itted'With discs. form:

cylinders floating 'and radia y fdispose'd ing two 'piston elements; one' .a-pump fpiston ele1nent--With a su'ctionVa-lve and .thefother `With a 4delivery Valve *communicating with the' passage commento allthe cylinders',v a

in thfepunipingL piston'eleinent, a

to assist vthe voutward movement.oi,-l the p umping'piston-niernloerpand extensions.

' drawntherein and tothe main piston and on i the return or i inward vmovement 'of ,saidtheair is delivered from the s the continuouspassage coin,-

the'V cylindersfgfor the purposes f f ing the wheelfsidesthe'couter edges 'of the discsbeing-turned'inwardly towards`-feach^ 4 .y yother' and being-fittedwithrirn'meinbers5the" inner fsurfac'e'fof veach rim ,'Inernberfloeing orined with concave surfaces,fadtread -vring f concentrically of ,the discs andformed on itsv i i inner surface Withconcave surfaces, the said a concave surfacesfof the riin members and the f tread ring fleeing' inuradial alignmenair i '.120 1 around the hub, air communication'between. 11V" each ofthecylinders' andan 'air pismn'punipy Y f l in each of the cylindersysaidjpump compri'sf i y' foii the piston .members Yibearig'zitesp'ctifvely thel finlpietlig 'il Vpairs -fpstonspne Working. in'theothei` under pressureAteaf'passage common 't0 all*V j 'y anddisposed in radialcylinderskspacedfi'omV4 the vcylinders:aIid-a, springbetween*the/Wells.135w

andiloating around'the Wheelhbgapassage ofilthe: inner. and-foute? vpistola membeisxt'' 1 i- 'f jattheouterhead. andra suction valve at the assist iii-the otWard throw of they puinpiiigff il i310' ilmer endroit thepumpingpieton, theghead Y pistn by*;-eentpifugeigfer`e'-, jn the 1 

